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New OLED TV Displays Much Thinner, Lighter, Pricier

by Brandon Dimmel on January, 4 2013 at 08:01AM EST

South Korean TV manufacturer LG has announced it is now accepting pre-orders for its new 55-inch Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) high-definition television. However, the high capability TV is priced at $10,000.

For one thing, OLED televisions are more efficient than Light Emitting Diode (LED) televisions and far more efficient than Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) TVs, the technologies that have made flat screen TVs currently popular and relatively inexpensive.

If there's a flat-screen TV in your house, chances are it's LCD or LED.

OLED TVs: More Efficient, Thinner, Lighter, Brighter

In addition to OLED televisions using less electrical power, they also provide a better looking picture. This is because OLED displays emit a white color light directly from each diode, or pixel. This translates into a lower error rate and a much clearer visual display.

In fact, some experts have taken to calling OLED displays "ultra definition" televisions, in an attempt to classify them beyond ordinary "high definition" TVs. (Source: pcmag.com)

Another improvement over older technologies is that OLED televisions can be extremely thin and lightweight. For example, LG's new 55-inch OLED TV now up for pre-order is just 0.16 inches deep and weighs just 22 pounds, far less bulky than anything comparable on the market.

LG: OLED More Than an "Incremental" Upgrade

LG's CEO has said that the new OLED technology "is much more than just an incremental improvement to current television technology. Not since color TV was first introduced 60 years ago has there been a more transformational moment." (Source: pcmag.com)

At the moment, LG is accepting pre-orders for the $10,000, 55-inch OLED TV set only from customers in South Korea, the company's home base. LG has not yet announced when the device might begin shipping to North America.

If this new TV sounds a bit too expensive for you, don't worry. There are other ways to check out OLED technology: for example, OLED displays are also appearing in smaller TVs, smartphones, and even Sony's Vita handheld gaming system. (Source: bbc.co.uk)